Kindergarten Week 1 & 2 - Music and our senses

General music began in Kindergarden two weeks ago. (My apologies for not posting separately regarding week 1, due to camera failure). At any rate we're off to a terrific start. In week one we talked about how we use our senses to evaluate music. Using a kind of paper funnel called a sound catcher, the kids were given opportunities to listen closely to both ambient sounds and musical ones. Hopefully the experience will help them focus on the musical qualities of the material we'll be covering this year.

In week 2 we continued using our senses to make aesthetic evaluations. We also used the Jamaican folk tune, "Bam Chi Chi Bam" to study the importance of patterns in music and in our environment. In the process we reinforced an important kindergarten math standard.

Art in the Park Finale -- "Ungaresca"

For the finale of the show we brought back the singers and dancers from earlier to join the Orff and Recorder Ensemble in a performance of the Hungarian Renaissance piece, "Ungaresca" Like many pieces of music from that era "Ungaresca" has sections that are in duple (2) and triple (3). This present special challenges to young musicians, but the kids handled them well, especially when you consider that this performance was the only time the three groups actually got to work together.

Great work everyone. Thanks to Mr. Pratt, Mr. Bassett and Ms. Kopacz for their wonderful contributions. And extra special thanks the Katie's mom Alysoun Higgins for suggesting this idea. It's a keeper!

Art in the Park -- "Up Stream"

This piece was submitted in the reflections contest, and since the composer is one of our experienced Orffians, we decided to play it. Beautiful piece, beautifully done.

Art in the Park -- "Tallis Canon"

Here's a video of one of our better recorder numbers. Canons are not easy to do on recorder, so wonderful job everybody!

Art in the Park is the Bomb!

For this spring's concert in the park, it was suggested that with combine our show with PTA's Reflections Art Show and I thought it was an inspired idea. Not only did we get a larger turnout than usual, it also generated a much greater sense of an Arts Community at Third Street. In these tough times when arts education programs are dismantled everywhere, that spirit of community is so important.

The program included singing by the 4th graders in room 7 and 19 who are presenting a production of "Oliver!" later in the year, dancing from Michelle Kopacz's Kids KOR Hip Hop & Tap and Movement classes. Of course my focus is always on the ensembles. Here's a video of our first number last night - Canon #41.

4th Grade Week 10 -- Ms. Polacheck's class performs "Broccoli"

The focus of this week's final class was on arranging our songs for presentation. As the students have been learning over the course of these ten weeks, songs frequently begin and end with a very simple idea -- it is the arranging of the material -- adding variations, instrumental breaks, intros and codas and so on, that allows the material to be extended in a way that is suitable for dancing, performing and, hopefully, enjoying. The recording here is an arrangement by Ms. Polacheck's class of one of their best songs. Considering that they had about ten minutes to develop and rehearse their arrangement, I thought they did an amazing job. Use the score above to sing along.

I was sorry that preparations for the concert on Friday and other commitments made it difficult for all the fourth grade classes to fully participate today, but overall I am extremely pleased with the work 4th grade did this year. 4th graders -- are you ready for instrumental composition next year?

2nd Grade Week 10 -- "Bam Chi Chi Bam"

For our final class the students learned a Jamaican song, "Bam Chi Chi Bam," them performed it on the Orff instruments as well as their gourd drums. It was fitting that we ended on a song that blends English lyrics with African influenced dialect, as a big part of our focus this year has been African music's contribution to music generally, particularly when it comes to the concept of beat and rhythm.

Of course the best part of the lesson was the end -- the kids get to take the drums they made home!